Dave Babych is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 19 seasons. He was born on May 23, 1961, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Babych began his hockey career in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Portland Winterhawks in 1977. He played for the Winterhawks for three seasons and was named the WHL's top defenseman in 1980.
Babych was drafted second overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft. He played for the Jets for four seasons and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 1981. In 1984, Babych was traded to the Hartford Whalers, where he played for two seasons before being traded to the Vancouver Canucks in 1986.
Babych played for the Canucks for eight seasons and was named the team's captain in 1991. He was known for his offensive skills as a defenseman and was a key player in the Canucks' run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1994. Babych scored the game-winning goal in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals against the Toronto Maple Leafs, sending the Canucks to the Finals for the first time since 1982.
After his time with the Canucks, Babych played for the Philadelphia Flyers for three seasons before being traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 1998. He played his final season in the NHL with the Atlanta Thrashers in 1999.
Throughout his career, Babych was known for his strong skating ability and offensive skills. He scored 142 goals and 581 points in 1,195 NHL games. He was also a two-time NHL All-Star and represented Canada in international competition, winning a silver medal at the 1985 World Championships.
After retiring from hockey, Babych worked as a scout for the Canucks and later became a player agent. He was inducted into the Portland Winterhawks Hall of Fame in 2001 and the British Columbia Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007.
Overall, Dave Babych had a successful career in the NHL, playing for five different teams and earning a reputation as a skilled and reliable defenseman. His contributions to the Canucks' run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1994 will always be remembered by fans in Vancouver.
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